<Begin Segment 3>

JS: Then your father purchased a grocery store. Was there a reason why he purchased a grocery store?

MN: No, no, I don't know. Like I said, Mother was very business-minded, and she loved --

JS: Your mother?

MN: Uh-huh.

JS: And then where was this grocery store located in Salinas?

MN: Right on Lake Street.

JS: I'm sorry, what?

MN: Lake Street.

JS: Lake?

MN: Yeah, Lake Street. 109 Lake Street.

JS: And what type of neighborhood was it located in?

MN: I think it was Little Japantown.

JS: Oh, really?

MN: Uh-huh, yes.

JS: So you had quite a few Japanese customers there?

MN: Yeah, a lot of, quite a few -- and then there were some Chinese restaurants there, next, next-door to our grocery store, there was a Chinese restaurant.

JS: And then the things that you sold at that grocery store, were they...

MN: Produce, meat.

JS: Okay. And then who worked at the grocery store? Your mother and father?

MN: Yes, uh-huh. We all did.

JS: So you worked there, too.

MN: No, I didn't have to work.

JS: Why was that?

MN: I was, I was a little... I was a little princess. [Laughs] Ojosan.

JS: Okay, okay. [Laughs]

MN: So I didn't, they didn't, they didn't, they didn't make us work there. But I had eight older brothers and sisters, so they all had to work there.

JS: Ah, except you.

MN: Except me and my younger sister.

JS: Oh, you have a younger sister?

MN: Yes, I have a younger sister, uh-huh.

JS: Okay, okay. Now, how large a business was this?

MN: Well, I thought it was huge, but I don't think so. I don't know, it's not... well, it had a produce section and it had a meat, meat market, and the meat market had that, had that walk-in refrigerator, so it must have been pretty big.

JS: And was it successful, do you think?

MN: Yes, uh-huh, it was. Uh-huh, yes.

<End Segment 3> - Copyright © 2004 Densho and The Japanese American Museum of San Jose. All Rights Reserved.